Law enforcement and private security, along with the general public, must remain vigilant to safeguard the nation.

Public, Private, Citizen Collaboration

As one walks the streets of New York City, the vigilant presence of dedicated NYPD officers protecting us must be appreciated.

Their dedication must be recognized, not only with its presence throughout the city with special events, but with uniformed officers walking the beat, and with highly trained and heavily armed units.

But the NYPD cannot do it alone. There must always be collaboration with private security and citizens.

All of us must be aware of our surroundings and work together to protect one another.

Security Countermeasures: Practical Tips

A robust security program must be comprehensive, proactive, and continually updated. Security must never be piecemeal, negligent, or have its importance minimized.

Approaches to security in workplaces, schools, campuses, houses of worship, communities, and families must include the following:

Security Vulnerability Assessments: These deserve attention by board-certified, reputable, and experienced public safety professionals in order to most effectively identify and evaluate areas of risk. Competent professionals have the experience to harden the targets through defense in depth principles, conduct efficacious training initiatives, and implement layers of protection.

Background Checks/Investigations: This is an essential: due diligence countermeasure that prevent hiring individuals who do not deserve employment or access. These checks must be made by qualified, licensed professionals who honor laws conducting background checks. Background checks include criminal history reports, drug testing, motor vehicle driving records, credit checks, liens and judgments, sexual offender registries, employment and professional credential verifications.

Investigations that include surveillance, interviewing, and information sources by experienced, conscientious, and ethical professionals are critical to protecting public and private enterprises.

Personnel Security: Certified, well-trained, respectably paid, and licensed security officer and fire safety programs involving reputable contract or in-house professionals with either armed or unarmed personnel. Our world has changed and security must be enhanced. The presence of licensed, trained, certified, law enforcement or military-experienced individuals who are armed and present in tactical gear deserves serious consideration at many locations.

Procedural Security: Drills deserve planning and evaluation with table-top exercises and involve partial and full-scale initiatives based on numerous possible scenarios. These must be complemented by the expertise and involvement of law enforcement and first-responders. Essential to training and drills is the Active Shooter program detailed on the FBI website titled RUN, HIDE, FIGHT.

Informational/Cybersecurity: In this age of instantaneous global data at the fingertips of individuals across the globe, some with nefarious intentions, protecting information is vital to security.

Informational security must be effective and continually updated with ongoing training for personnel that empowers them with preventive techniques. This protects from breaches of information through the Internet, dumpster diving, ransomware, phishing scams, mobile payment and banking hacks, and social engineering. Prevention measures and training can prevent unnecessary turmoil to companies and employees.

Rise to the Occasion

America must do everything in its power to enhance security during these challenging times in the nation.

We are a nation that has a history of security challenges. Yet, once again America will rise to the occasion with the dedication, commitment, and professionalism of our citizens and all in the public and private sectors.

Vincent J. Bove, CPP, is a national speaker and author on issues critical to America. Bove is a recipient of the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award for combating crime and violence and is a former confidant of the New York Yankees. His newest book is “Listen to Their Cries.” For more information, see www.vincentbove.com

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

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